15 July Botched Turkiye Coup: “How And Why It Happened” - Governor Of Istanbul

Though already accustomed to two previous successful coups (1960 and 1980), the attempt on July 15, 2016 to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan bore all the hallmarks of de jamais vu. In terms of the ruthless and methodic manner in which it was executed in the Turkish political capital, Ankara, and Istanbul, the commercial capital. Resulting in the deaths of 253 people, and more than 3,000 injured. Ever since, Turkiye has marked July 15 anniversary of the botched coup as Democracy and National Unity Day. 

200 Journalists Visit 
Covering the event this year were 200 invited journalists – 120 foreign and the rest local. The Governor of Istanbul, Davut Gül, on Thursday, July 17, 2025 received the 200 journalists in his office. Taking them down memory lane as to some of the causes of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, FETO-led rebellion. And how it happened. 

Carefully Orchestrated Plan
According to Governor Gül, most of Turkiye’s population in the 1960s lived in rural areas. They were poor and uneducated. The Fetullah Terrorist Organization took advantage of this and started selling its cause to the gullible citizens. They secretly infiltrated public institutions where they recruited members, and even established schools and other educational institutions. FETO also tried to recruit business people by establishing business ties with them… Before finally coming out in the open to strike in the night of July 15, 2016.

Stiff Civilian Resistance 
But the coup failed because it met with stiff resistance from unarmed civilians and a meticulous counter-offensive by the military and security forces. This was after President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in a video message aired on television called out the people to the streets to defend democracy. Both young and old, people from different backgrounds, obeyed the call, the Governor noted. The people resisted advancing FETO tanks on 15 July Martyrs Bridge in Istanbul, where 35 of them lost their lives. 

Insider Connivance, Complicity  
FETO had over the years infiltrated the judiciary, police and military from where they struck. But not all members of these institutions took sides with FETO. Reason why the insurgents were overpowered on July 16, 2016 by loyalist troops and civilian demonstrators. The government has gotten rid of FETO members and the nation is going through healing. The strong will of unarmed civilians helped to stop the coup, Governor Davut assured. 

True Identity Concealed 
In Istanbul, FETO had disguised itself for many years, suppo...